Effects Of Sex Research Articles

Sex differences in the outcome of critically Ill patients with COVID-19 - An international multicenter critical care consortium study

BackgroundSex differences in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) susceptibility, illness severity, and hospital course are widely acknowledged. The effects of sex on outcomes experienced by patients with severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) remains unknown. ObjectivesTo determine the effects of sex on ICU mortality in patients with COVID-19 MethodsThis retrospective analysis of an international multi-center prospective observational database included adults admitted to ICU for treatment of acute COVID-19 between 1st January 2020 and 30th June 2022. The primary outcome was ICU mortality. Multivariable Cox regression was used to ascertain the hazard of death (Hazard Ratio=HR) adjusted for pre-selected covariates. The secondary outcome was sex differences in complications of COVID-19 during hospital stay. ResultsOverall, 10,259 patients (3,314 females, 6,945 males) were included with a median age of 60 (interquartile range [IQR]=49–68) and 59 (IQR=49–67) years, respectively. Baseline characteristics were similar between sexes. More females were non-smokers (65% vs. 44 %, p < 0.01) and obese (39% vs. 30 %, p < 0.01), compared to males. Also, males received greater ICU intervention (mechanical ventilation, prone ventilation, vasopressors, and tracheostomy) than females. Males had a greater hazard of death (compared to females, HR=1.14; 95 % CI=1.02–1.26). Adjustment for complications during hospital stay did not alter the hazard of death (HR=1.16; 95 % CI=1.05–1.28). Males had a significantly elevated hazard of death among patients who received ECMO (HR=1.24; 95 % CI=1.01–1.53). Male sex was associated with cardiac arrest (adjusted OR [aOR]=1.37; 95 % CI=1.16–1.62) and PE (aOR=1.28; 95 % CI=1.06–1.55). ConclusionAmong patients admitted to ICU for severe COVID-19, males experienced higher severity of illness and more frequent intervention than females. Ultimately, the hazard of death was moderately elevated in males compared to females despite greater PE and cardiac arrest.

Blood Pressure, Antihypertensive Use, and Late-Life Alzheimer and Non-Alzheimer Dementia Risk: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis.

Previous randomized controlled trials and longitudinal studies have indicated that ongoing antihypertensive use in late life reduces all-cause dementia risk, but the specific impact on Alzheimer dementia (AD) and non-AD risk remains unclear. This study investigates whether previous hypertension or antihypertensive use modifies AD or non-AD risk in late life and the ideal blood pressure (BP) for risk reduction in a diverse consortium of cohort studies. This individual participant data meta-analysis included community-based longitudinal studies of aging from a preexisting consortium. The main outcomes were risk of developing AD and non-AD. The main exposures were hypertension history/antihypertensive use and baseline systolic BP/diastolic BP. Mixed-effects Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess risk and natural splines were applied to model the relationship between BP and the dementia outcomes. The main model controlled for age, age2, sex, education, ethnoracial group, and study cohort. Supplementary analyses included a fully adjusted model, an analysis restricting to those with >5 years of follow-up and models that examined the moderating effect of age, sex, and ethnoracial group. There were 31,250 participants from 14 nations in the analysis (41% male) with a mean baseline age of 72 (SD 7.5, range 60-110) years. Participants with untreated hypertension had a 36% (hazard ratio [HR] 1.36, 95% CI 1.01-1.83, p = 0.0406) and 42% (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.08-1.87, p = 0.0135) increased risk of AD compared with "healthy controls" and those with treated hypertension, respectively. Compared with "healthy controls" both those with treated (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.03-1.60, p = 0.0267) and untreated hypertension (HR 1.69, 95% CI 1.19-2.40, p = 0.0032) had greater non-AD risk, but there was no difference between the treated and untreated groups. Baseline diastolic BP had a significant U-shaped relationship (p = 0.0227) with non-AD risk in an analysis restricted to those with 5-year follow-up, but otherwise there was no significant relationship between baseline BP and either AD or non-AD risk. Antihypertensive use was associated with decreased AD but not non-AD risk throughout late life. This suggests that treating hypertension throughout late life continues to be crucial in AD risk mitigation. A single measure of BP was not associated with AD risk, but DBP may have a U-shaped relationship with non-AD risk over longer periods in late life.

Consideration of absolute intensity when examining sex differences in blood pressure responses during static exercise.

Low- to moderate-intensity submaximal static contractions are commonly used to study the effects of biological sex on the cardiovascular response to exercise. Under this paradigm, premenopausal females frequently demonstrate smaller blood pressure responses than age-matched males. These differences are preserved during postexercise circulatory occlusion, implicating the muscle metaboreflex as an important driver of sex differences in the blood pressure response to static exercise. The mechanisms responsible for these differences are incompletely understood but often attributed to innate sex differences in skeletal muscle fiber type distribution, muscle metabolism, and/or sympathetic control of the circulation. However, one potential confounding factor is that the majority of studies use relative intensity exercise (e.g., 30% of maximal voluntary contraction), such that on average, females are completing static contractions at a lower absolute intensity. In this review, we summarize human evidence showing that sex differences in blood pressure responses to static exercise are attenuated or abolished when controlling for absolute intensity and muscle strength, either by statistical methods or strength-matched cohorts. We highlight evidence that the effect of higher absolute contraction intensity on exercise blood pressure likely occurs through increased mechanical occlusion of skeletal muscle microvasculature, leading to greater activation of the muscle metaboreflex. These findings highlight an important need to account for absolute intensity when studying and interpreting sex differences in cardiovascular responses to exercise.

The intersectional effects of sex and socioeconomic status on risk of mortality in industrializing England.

Intersectionality posits that multiple levels of marginalization interact to produce patterns of frailty and mortality, both today and in the past. To investigate how mortality during industrialization was selective with respect to sex and socioeconomic status (SES), this study analyzes data from four burial grounds dated to the 18th-19th centuries in England: St. Bride's Fleet Street, Coach Lane, St. Peter's Collegiate Church, and New Bunhill Fields. St. Bride's was considered the high SES group, and Coach Lane, St. Peter's, and New Bunhill Fields were separately and collectively analyzed as the low SES groups. Sex (in individuals aged 18+ years) was modeled as a covariate affecting the Gompertz model of mortality, and SES (in individuals for whom age could be estimated) was modeled as a covariate affecting the Siler and Gompertz models of mortality. The results indicate that sex influenced risk of mortality among adults in the high SES group. High SES males faced lower risks of death compared to high SES females. The results also suggest that SES influenced risk of mortality across all ages. High SES individuals were at reduced risks of death compared to low SES individuals. Increased mortality risks among individuals of low SES was likely due to the low standards of living common in the impoverished areas of cities in industrializing England. However, in accordance with intersectionality, the benefits of high status were unequally distributed among adults in the high SES group, suggesting that men were the primary beneficiaries of the protective aspects of high SES.

Sex-specific responses of Taxus mairei to UV-B radiation involved altering the interactions between the microbiota assembly and host secondary metabolism

BackgroundTo adapt to constantly changing environments, ancient gymnosperms have coevolved with diverse endophytic fungi that are essential for the fitness and adaptability of the plant host. However, the effect of sex on plant-endophyte interactions in response to environmental stressors remains unknown. RNA-seq integrated with ITS analysis was applied to reveal the potential mechanisms underlying the sex-specific responses of Taxus mairei to ultraviolet (UV)-B radiation.ResultsEnrichment analysis suggested that sex influenced the expression of several genes related to the oxidation–reduction system, which might play potential roles in sex-mediated responses to UV-B radiations. ITS-seq analysis clarified the effects of UV-B radiation and sex on the composition of endophytic fungal communities. Sex influenced various secondary metabolic pathways, thereby providing chemicals for T. mairei host to produce attractants and/or inhibitors to filter microbial taxa. Analysis of fungal biomarkers suggested that UV-B radiation reduced the effect of sex on fungal communities. Moreover, Guignardia isolate #1 was purified to investigate the role of endophytic fungi in sex-mediated responses to UV-B radiation. Inoculation with spores produced by isolate #1 significantly altered various oxidation–reduction systems of the host by regulating the expression of APX2, GST7 NCED1, ZE1, CS1, and CM1.ConclusionThese results revealed the roles of endophytic fungi in sex-mediated responses to UV-B radiation and provided novel insights into the sex-specific responses of Taxus trees to environmental stressors.3pQjBcj-im_YZSujzFCGpbVideo

Standardized Ileal Digestibility of Calcium and Phosphorus in Feed Ingredients for 21-Day-Old Broilers.

This study aimed to determine the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) in various feed ingredients using the direct method. This study comprised eight experimental diets: a Ca-P-free diet and seven experimental diets, each containing monocalcium phosphate (MCP), dicalcium phosphate (DCP), monosodium phosphate (MSP) + limestone, corn, and soybean meal (SBM) as the sole sources of Ca and/or P. These diets provided 4.21 g/kg of non-phytate P from MCP, DCP, or MSP, and the MSP + limestone diet included 7.50 g/kg of Ca. The corn and SBM diets formulated to determine P digestibility maintained a dietary Ca/total P ratio of 1.4 through the addition of limestone. Chromic oxide was added to the diets as an indigestible index. On day 18, 256 male and 256 female broilers were individually weighed and randomly assigned to eight treatments, each with four replicates for each sex (eight birds per cage). This allocation followed a randomized complete block design based on body weight. On day 21, the birds were euthanized using carbon dioxide, and ileal digesta samples were collected from the distal two-thirds section of the ileum. No significant interactions between the experimental diets and sex regarding the SID of Ca or P were detected, and no effect of sex on the SID was observed. The standardized ileal Ca digestibility of MCP, DCP, limestone, corn, and SBM was found to be 84.7%, 70.1%, 52.6%, 88.6%, and 81.6%, respectively. The standardized ileal P digestibility of MCP, DCP, MSP, corn, and SBM was determined to be 91.8%, 76.8%, 94.4%, 73.1, and 88.4%, respectively. Given the variable digestibility of Ca and P across different feed ingredients, the consideration of the specific type of ingredients used in diet formulation is crucial.

Limited sex differences in spatial language in parent-child dyads

BackgroundThere is a complex pattern of sex differences in spatial abilities, yet there is limited knowledge of sex differences in children's exposure to, and children's use of, spatial language. The aim of this study was to directly compare mother-child and father-child interactions to investigate differences by child and parent sex in spatial language. MethodsThe first 3-min of mother-child and father-child DUPLO® play sessions were coded for spatial language when the child was 24 months (N = 187 families; 105:82 boys:girls) and two years later at 48 months (N = 115 families; 66:49 boys:girls). ResultsThere were no sex differences in children's or parents' spatial language use at 24 months or 48 months. Regardless of socioeconomic status or parent talkativeness, parents showed more variety of spatial language (quality) with their daughters than their sons, but a similar quantity of spatial language with their daughters and sons. Associational analyses revealed a concurrent association between parent and child spatial language use at 48 months, but parent spatial language at 24 months did not predict child spatial language 2 years later. No direct sex effects were observed for cross-sectional or longitudinal associational analyses. ConclusionsHigher spatial language quality with daughters could reflect a higher (perceived) need to provide conceptual support to daughters than sons. Beyond this, we found limited evidence of sex effects. Our findings represent an important contribution, demonstrating comparable levels of exposure to spatial language to sons and daughters, and comparable elicitation of spatial language from young boys and girls.

Assessment of age-dependent sexual dimorphism in paediatric vertebral size and density using a statistical shape and statistical appearance modelling approach

This work focuses on the growth patterns of the human fourth lumbar vertebra (L4) in a paediatric population, with specific attention to sexual dimorphism. The study aims to understand morphological and density changes in the vertebrae through age-dependent statistical shape and statistical appearance models, which can describe full three-dimensional anatomy. Results show that the main growth patterns are associated with isotropic volumetric vertebral growth, a decrease in the relative size of the vertebral foramen, and an increase in the length of the transverse processes. Moreover, significant sexual dimorphism was demonstrated during puberty. We observe significant age and sex interaction in the anterior vertebral body height (P = 0.005), where females exhibited an earlier increase in rates of vertebral height evolution. Moreover, we also observe an increase in cross-sectional area (CSA) with age (P = 0.020), where the CSA is smaller in females than in males (significant sex effect P = 0.042). Finally, although no significant increase in trabecular bone density with age is observed (P = 0.363), a trend in the statistical appearance model suggests an increase in density with age.

Sex differences in physiological correlates of affectively driven decision-making behavior in adult ADHD

BackgroundSex differences in the symptomatology of adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have often been overlooked when studying behavioral abnormalities. However, it is known that women exhibit considerably more stronger symptoms related to emotional competence than men. Since affective functions significantly influence the processing of risky decision-making and risk-engagement, we assume that risky behavior in ADHD is affected by sex differences. Therefore, we specifically investigated sex-specific effects on the interaction between emotionally induced changes in physiology and behavioral performance on a decision-making task.MethodsSkin conductance responses of twenty-nine adults with ADHD (n = 16 male; n = 13 female) and thirty-three adults in the control group (n = 14 male; n = 19 female) were recorded during the performance in a modified version of the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART). Additional questionnaires were used to reveal insights in the self-assessment of emotional competence, risk perception, and feedback sensitivity. Emotional arousal and decision-making behavior were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models.ResultsResults showed different effects of sex on risk behaviors in controls and ADHD. In contrast to healthy controls, female adults with ADHD showed a significantly greater risk engagement in the BART compared to males with ADHD. This contrary sex relation was not observed in skin conductance responses and revealed a significantly different sex-dependent correlation of body response and behavioral task performance in ADHD. Comparisons with results from self-assessments furthermore indicate a reduced behavioral self-perception in women with ADHD, but not in men.ConclusionIn summary, we found an altered interaction between physiological activity and risky behavior in women with ADHD. Thus, the present study indicates a reduced sensitivity towards the own bodily responses in women with ADHD, which could consequently cause increased risky DM behavior in daily life. The current results suggest that more consideration needs to be given to sex-specific effects on physiological processes and behavior in adults with ADHD.

Association between family economic situation and serum PFAS concentration in American adults with hypertension and hyperlipemia

Although there is an association between income status and concentration of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS), the association remains uncertain in patients with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and comorbidities. Data from the 2013–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. A total of 2665 adults were included, and the data included participants' serum PFAS (perfluorooctanoic acid [PFOA], perfluorononaic acid, perfluorodecanoic acid, perfluoroundecanoic acid, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid, and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid) levels and selected covariates. Multivariate linear regression models were used to examine the association between the ratio of family income to poverty (PIR) and individual serum PFAS concentrations in the hypertensive and/or hyperlipidemia groups after adjusting for covariates. The potential effects of sex and age on the results were explored using stratified analysis. A mediating effect model was used to explore the mediating effects of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference on the association results. After adjusting for potential confounders, for hyperlipidemia and comorbidities (hypertension and hyperlipidemia), serum levels of multiple common PFAS increased by 0.09% (95%Confidence interval [CI] 0.02–0.15%) to 0.13% (95%CI 0.08–0.19%) and 0.10% (95%CI 0.02–0.17%) to 0.12% (95%CI 0.06–0.18%), respectively, with each 1% increase in PIR. The covariate model and stratified analyses results suggested the potential effects of different covariates such as age and sex, leading to changes in the statistical significance of the association results. BMI significantly mediated the effect of PIR on PFOA in hyperlipidemia (13%, P < 0.001). Household income in adults with hyperlipidemia and comorbidities positively correlated with serum PFAS concentration in the United States. Obesity played an indispensable mediating role in the association between economic income and PFAS concentration.

Effect of osteopenia and osteoporosis on failure of first and second dental implants: a retrospective observational study

PurposeThe present study evaluated osteopenia (OPN) and osteoporosis (OP) as risk factors for dental implant failure and repeat failure.MethodsWe performed a retrospective study on over 100 randomly selected patients per analysis to determine the effect of health status, smoking status, sex, implant location and operative conditions on first and second (re-implantation) implant survival. Analyses were conducted first using chi-squared test, followed by multiple logistic regression for significant variables.ResultsIn the cohort examining the effect of myriad risk factors on second implant survival, it was found that OPN and OP greatly impacted implant survival, wherein patients with osteoporosis or osteopenia had significantly more implant failures (p = 0.0353). Sex and operative conditions had no effect on implant survival, while implant location showed a notable effect wherein significantly more failures occurred in the maxilla vs mandible (p = 0.0299). Upon finding that OPN and OP have a significant effect on second implant survival, we conducted an additional study focusing on the impact of health status. Based on the multiple logistical regression analysis, we found that OPN and OP are the most significant factor in first implant survival (p = 0.0065), followed by diabetes (p = 0.0297). Importantly, it was observed that early implant failure is also significantly correlated with osteoporosis (p = 0.0044).ConclusionWe show here a marked relationship in which the risk of first and second implant failure are significantly higher in patients with osteoporosis and osteopenia.

An acute handling challenge mobilizes glucose and free fatty acids in mountain Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis oreganus)

Resource mobilization and reallocation is a major endpoint of the physiological response to acute challenges. However, energy metabolites have not been the focus of most field studies. Here, we characterized the glycemic and free fatty acid (FFA) response to an acute-handling challenge in a breeding, free-living, population of Mountain Dark-eyed Juncos ( Junco hyemalis oreganus) in Mono County, CA. Juncos ( n = 12) were trapped in seed-baited potter traps at Tioga Pass Meadow, coinciding with territory establishment and early nesting period. Blood samples were collected at 0, 15, and 30 min post-capture, and analysis showed Juncos mobilized both glucose and FFA in response to an acute handling challenge. Blood glucose levels were significantly higher than baseline at 15 min (42.6% increase) and 30 min post-capture (66.7% increase). FFA levels were also significantly higher than baseline at 15 min (29.2% increase) and 30 min post-capture (22% increase). We also measured morphometrics (e.g., wing chord length, tarsus length, etc.), fat, and mass for each individual to investigate the effects of body size and fat storage on energy mobilization using linear models. We found no significant effects of body size or fat and mass on FFA mobilization. However, body size had a significant effect on glucose mobilization, with larger individuals displaying a higher percent increase in glucose from baseline to 15 min. Additionally, we found an effect of sex on glucose mobilization, with males showing a higher percent increase in glucose from baseline to 15 min. These results suggest that energy mobilization capacity is influenced by body size and male Juncos may increase energy mobilization relative to females during the breeding season.

Revisiting sex as a biological variable in hypertension research.

Half of adults in the United States have hypertension as defined by clinical practice guidelines. Interestingly, women are generally more likely to be aware of their hypertension and have their blood pressure controlled with treatment compared with men, yet hypertension-related mortality is greater in women. This may reflect the fact that the female sex remains underrepresented in clinical and basic science studies investigating the effectiveness of therapies and the mechanisms controlling blood pressure. This Review provides an overview of the impact of the way hypertension research has explored sex as a biological variable (SABV). Emphasis is placed on epidemiological studies, hypertension clinical trials, the genetics of hypertension, sex differences in immunology and gut microbiota in hypertension, and the effect of sex on the central control of blood pressure. The goal is to offer historical perspective on SABV in hypertension, highlight recent studies that include SABV, and identify key gaps in SABV inclusion and questions that remain in the field. Through continued awareness campaigns and engagement/education at the level of funding agencies, individual investigators, and in the editorial peer review system, investigation of SABV in the field of hypertension research will ultimately lead to improved clinical outcomes.

Financial and prosocial rewards differentially enhance cognition in younger and older healthy adults

The prospect of a reward can enhance cognitive performance. For younger men financial gains, and for older adults and women prosocial rewards, seem particularly motivating. We therefore investigated whether adding a prosocial component to a financial reward enhanced cognitive performance and, if so, whether this depended on age or sex. We randomly assigned 571 participants to one of three reward types (financial reward, prosocial reward, or a combination of both) in a monetary incentive delay task. We used linear effects modelling to examine effects of age, sex, or reward type on trial accuracy, response time, and total performance. The prospect of a combined financial and prosocial reward increased performance in all participants with the increase of response speed particularly pronounced in younger adults. Only in men, a sole financial reward increased performance. Our study highlights the importance of choosing rewards wisely when designing studies that examine their influence on cognitive performance.

Differences between sexes in STEMI treatment and outcomes with contemporary primary PCI.

Historically, differences in timely reperfusion and outcomes have been described in females who suffer ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, there have been improvements in the treatment of STEMI patients with contemporary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) strategies. Comparisons between sexes were performed on STEMI patients treated with primary PCI over a 4-year period (January 1, 2017-December 31, 2020) from the Queensland Cardiac Outcomes Registry. Primary outcomes were 30-day and 1-year cardiovascular mortality. Secondary outcomes were STEMI performance measures. The total and direct effects of gender on mortality outcomes were estimated using logistic and multinomial logistic regression models. Overall, 2747 (76% male) were included. Females were on average older (65.9 vs. 61.9 years; p < 0.001), had longer total ischemic time (69 min vs. 52 min; p < 0.001) and less achievement of STEMI performance targets (<90 min) (50% vs. 58%; p < 0.001). There was no evidence for a total (odds ratio [OR] 1.3 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.8-2.2; p = 0.35) or direct (adjusted OR 1.2 (95% CI: 0.7-2.1; p = 0.58) effect of female sex on 30-day mortality. One-year mortality was higher in females (6.9% vs. 4.4%; p = 0.014) with total effect estimates consistent with increased risk of cardiovascular mortality (Incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.0-2.3; p = 0.059) and noncardiovascular mortality (IRR: 2.1; 95% CI: 0.9-4.7; p = 0.077) in females. However, direct (adjusted) effect estimates of cardiovascular mortality (IRR: 1.0; 95% CI: 0.6-1.6; p = 0.94) indicated sex differences were explained by confounders and mediators. Small sex differences in STEMI performance measures still exist; however, with contemporary primary PCI strategies, sex is not associated with cardiovascular mortality at 30 days or 1 year.

Effect of Age and Sex on Medullation Types and Fiber Characteristics in Huacaya Alpacas

Background: Fiber is a distinctive attribute of the alpaca due to its softness qualities; it contains less grease and has a finer cuticle compared to sheep's wool. Therefore, the types of medullation were estimated: non-medullated fibers (NoMed), fragmented medulla (FragMed), discontinuous medulla (DiscMed), continuous medulla (ContMed) and strongly medullated fibers (StrMed), considering the age and sex of Huacaya breed alpacas (Vicugna pacos) under extensive management conditions in high Andean pastures. Methods: Six grams of fiber samples were collected from the mid-side region (located above the third last rib, halfway between the midline of the belly and the midline of the back) of 240 Huacaya alpacas from the district of Macusani, province of Carabaya, Puno, during the year 2022. They were then processed in the Fiber Laboratory of the Faculty of Textile Engineering and Garments at the National University of Juliaca using the FIBER EC V4.0 and FIBER MED V1.0 equipment. Result: The results obtained show that the percentage of non-medullated fibers decreases as the animal’s age increases (1 year= 75.60%, 2 years=69.43%, 3 years=69.05% and greater than 4 years=66.25%) (P≤0.05). The percentage of medullated fibers in animals of 1 year was 24.40%; 2 years, 30.57%; 3 years, 30.95% and greater than 4 years, 33.59% (P≤0.05). The mean fiber diameter in 1-year-old alpacas is 17.32 mm, 2 years=19.49 mm, 3 years = 19.91 mm and 4 years=20.10 mm (P≤0.05). The comfort factor in 1-year-old animals is 99.47%, 2 years with 98.02%, 3-year-olds with 97.01% and those older than 4 years with 96.45% (P≤0.05). Regarding the curvature index, values of 55.86 °/mm were obtained for 1-year-old animals, 53.43 °/mm for 2-year-olds, 53.99 °/mm for 3-year-olds and 52.23°/mm for those older than 4 years (P≤0.05). In conclusion, Huacaya alpacas exhibit low values for the percentage of strongly medullated fibers due to the age and sex of the animal, demonstrating very good fleece uniformity.

The Effect of Age on Survival Is Similar in Males and Females of an Aquatic Insect Species

Age is a critical intrinsic factor that influences the probability of survival of organisms on Earth. In many animals, the lifestyles and habitat occupancy of males and females are so different that the effect of age could be sex-dependent. To reveal such patterns in wild animal populations, we here use a natural population of the Mediterranean demoiselle Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis Vander Linden (Calopterygidae: Zygoptera) in Northeast Algeria to analyze the influence of age and sex on survival probability using daily capture–mark–recapture. We used stepwise model selection on Cormack–Jolly–Seber models that explain recapture and survival probability, including age and sex as covariates. We marked a total of 214 adults throughout the study period (41 days). The sex ratio did not deviate from unity. Recapture probability depended on sex and time, with a slightly higher recapture probability in males (0.30 [95% CI: 0.27–0.35]) than females (0.26 [0.22–0.30]). The survival probability was slightly higher in females (0.89 [0.86–0.91]) than males (0.86 [0.82–0.88]). The best model for the survival probability included an additive effect of sex and age, indicating that the survival probability of both sexes declined with age. Interestingly, the lifespan of some individuals reached 119–130 days, which is surprisingly long compared to other temperate damselflies.

Fractional utilization of the 10-minute treadmill test velocity in running performance.

This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of the 10-minute submaximal treadmill test (T10 test), a self-paced test, in determining critical speed (CS) and predicting running performance. Specifically, we sought to identify the percentage of T10 velocity (vT10) that runners performed in official distance races, and to compare physiological and performance indicators between sexes. 60 recreational runners (n = 34 males and n = 26 females) underwent a maximum incremental test, the novel T10 test, and ran 1200-m and 2400-m on the track. Runners self-reported their best performance times. Generalized Linear Model was used to compare running performances between sexes. For both males and females, the %vT10 in 5km, 10km, and half-marathon races occurred at 107.5% and 106.5%, 99.9% and 100.8%, and 92.6% and 97.1%, respectively. There was no interaction effect (p = .520) and no main effect of sex (p = .443). There was a main effect of distance (p < .001), indicating that %vT10 in the 5km race differed from that found in the 10km race (p = .012), as well as in the half-marathon (p < .001). Our findings suggest that %vT10 values can be used to determine pace in recreational endurance runners for race distances regardless of sex.

Subcortical volume in middle-aged adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Studies of youth and young adults with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) have most consistently reported reduced volumes of the corpus callosum, cerebellum and subcortical structures. However, it is unknown whether this continues into middle adulthood or if individuals with PAE may experience premature volumetric decline with aging. Forty-eight individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and 28 healthy comparison participants aged 30 to 65 participated in a 3T MRI session that resulted in usable T1-weighted and T2-weighted structural images. Primary analyses included volumetric measurements of the caudate, putamen, pallidum, cerebellum and corpus callosum using FreeSurfer software. Analyses were conducted examining both raw volumetric measurements and subcortical volumes adjusted for overall intracranial volume (ICV). Models tested for main effects of age, sex and group, as well as interactions of group with age and group with sex. We found the main effects for group; all regions were significantly smaller in participants with FASD for models using raw volumes (P's < 0.001) as well as for models using volumes adjusted for ICV (P's < 0.046). Although there were no significant interactions of group with age, females with FASD had smaller corpus callosum volumes relative to both healthy comparison females and males with FASD (P's < 0.001). As seen in children and adolescents, adults aged 30 to 65 with FASD showed reduced volumes of subcortical structures relative to healthy comparison adults, suggesting persistent impact of PAE. Moreover, the observed volumetric reduction of the corpus callosum in females with FASD could suggest more rapid degeneration, which may have implications for cognition as these individuals continue to age.

The Interaction Effects of Sex, Age, APOE and Common Health Risk Factors on Human Brain Functions.

Nonlinear changes in brain function during aging are shaped by a complex interplay of factors, including sex, age, genetics, and modifiable health risk factors. However, the combined effects and underlying mechanisms of these factors on brain functional connectivity remain poorly understood. To comprehensively investigate the combined associations of sex, age, APOE genotypes, and ten common modifiable health risk factors with brain functional connectivities during aging. This analysis used data from 36,630 UK Biobank participants, aged 44-81, who were assessed for sex, age, APOE genotypes, 10 health risk factors, and brain functional connectivities through resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Brain functional connectivities were evaluated through within- and between-network functional connectivities and connectivity strength. Associations between risk factors and brain functional connectivities, including their interaction effects, were analyzed. Hypertension, BMI, and education were the top three influential factors. Sex-specific effects were also observed in interactions involving APOE4 gene, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, BMI, and education. Notably, a negative sex-excessive alcohol interaction showed a stronger negative effect on functional connectivities in males, particularly between the dorsal attention network and the language network, while moderate alcohol consumption appeared to have protective effects. A significant negative interaction between sex and APOE4 revealed a greater reduction in functional connectivity between the cingulo-opercular network and the posterior multimodal network in male APOE4 carriers. Additional findings included a negative age-BMI interaction between the visual and dorsal attention networks, and a positive age-hypertension interaction between the frontoparietal and default mode networks. The findings highlight significant sex disparities in the associations between age, the APOE-ε4 gene, modifiable health risk factors, and brain functional connectivity, emphasizing the necessity of jointly considering these factors to gain a deeper understanding of the complex processes underlying brain aging.